CENTRAL ONTARIO MINOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE
By-Laws
(Updated May 2010)

SECTION 1 - SEASON SCHEDULE

A. Playing Dates

1. The regular and play-off season for the COMFL Atom, Pewee and Bantam divisions shall be completed by the second weekend in November. 

2. The first game for the Atom, Peewee and Bantam divisions shall be played no sooner than the second weekend of August. 

3. Games will be scheduled, when possible, on weekends.

4. Holiday weekend games will be scheduled on Mondays.

5. The scheduler may schedule other mid-week games, but only if necessary to complete a schedule.

B. Game Times

1. Game starting times will be as follows on weekends

Atom 9:30am Peewee 11:30am

Bantam 1:30pm 

2. In addition, the following should be noted,

All mid-week games 8:15pm.

3. Starting times and dates are subject to change by mutual agreement of the centre Presidents involved and the scheduler's approval.

4. Any team not on the field and ready to play 15 minutes after the scheduled kick-off or after any delay in the previous game may default the game at the Board of Directors discretion.

C. Playoffs

Semi Finals - Tier 1 and Tier 2

4th place plays 1st place

3rd place plays 2nd place.

2. Fall Seasonfinals will be played as a triple-header at a site to be determined by the Board of Director. 

3. Championship Days will be held at a field agreed to by the Board of Directors. Neutral officials will be used with no official officiating more than two games.

3. Officials should be advised of overtime procedures for Playoff and Championship games as follows:

In the event that the score is tied at the end of the second half of a game each team will be given the opportunity to score using the following procedure. The first team, as determined by a coin toss, shall scrimmage the ball at the opponent’s 35 yard line, and may advance by consecutive series of downs until it makes a score or loses the possession. The second teams will then scrimmage at the same 35 – yard line and proceed as above. If the score is still tied the procedure shall be repeated until a winner is declared after both teams have had equal opportunities. White book version

D. Ties

1. Ties for playoff positions will be broken by the following formula:

a. head to head (wins/loses)

b. head to head (total point differential)

c. total points for and against (no more than 15 point spread per game).

d. flip of coin (tie for 1st and 2nd only)

e. if a tie for the final play-off position can not be resolved by criteria a, b, or c, then a qualification game will be held. In this case the flip of a coin will determine home field.

E. Protests

1. All protests must be lodged by phone with the Registrar by an Association Executive member (other than the coaches involved) within 24 hours of the game having been completed.

2. Protests must be followed by a letter and a cheque for $100.00 dated within 5 days of the game.

3. Protest cheque is not refundable if the protest is lost.

4. Any Executive member of the League's Board of Directors can not be a member of the protest committee if their team is involved in the protest.

F. Defaults

1. A team with less players dressed for a game than fifteen (15) for Atom, Peewee or Bantam will automatically default the game.

2. Defaulting team is responsible for their own costs and the direct incurred costs of the opponents based on the receipts provided by the opponent.

3. If either team fails to notify the opponent team of a cancellation, 72 hours in advance of the scheduled game time, the team that fails to notify shall be responsible for the direct incurred costs of the opponent for that game and any extra direct incurred costs of the opponent for the re-scheduled game. The costs will be determined based on receipts provided by the opponent. The 72 hour Cancellation is not applicable due to any act of God, such as, but not limited to flooding or act of vandalism. The canceling centre may be asked to provide confirmation of said cancellation.

4. If the teams are notified in time (72 hours prior to game time) the game will be rescheduled without penalty.

5. Any team that intentionally defaults a game is automatically eliminated from post season play upon a majority vote of the Board of Directors and the standings are adjusted accordingly.

6. The score of a defaulted game is 15-0.

SECTION 2 - TEAM NAMES, COLOURS AND SPONSORS

A. All member Associations must declare their full team names at the Annual General Meeting.

B. Present colours of all member teams are acceptable. New teams must comply with the League's ruling and requirements for colours.

C. Teams wishing to use sponsors are permitted to use names or logos of the sponsor provided;

1. Names do not exceed a height of 3 inches (back of jersey only).

2. Logos are not to exceed a height of 5 inches and are to appear on the shoulders or chest.

D If a team has two sets of jerseys, the visiting team must comply with home team's colour selection.

SECTION 3 - PLAYER ELIGIBILITY

A. Ages are as outlined by Football Ontario unless detrimental to the structure and aims of the COMFL.

B. Weights are as outlined by Football Ontario unless detrimental to the structure and aims of COMFL.

SECTION 4 - REGISTRATION

A. Proof of Age

Any one piece of original photo ID from the following list, provided that piece shall authenticate the date of birth, shall be accepted at the Atom, Peewee and Bantam levels.

1. Birth Certificate

2. Birth Registration

3 Passport (Valid)

4. Baptismal Certificate

5. Landed Immigrant Certificate

6. Ontario Health Card (with photo only)

A. Registration forms must be filled out completely and signed by the player.

B. Each player must have their picture at registration and must sign the back of the picture and it will remain with the Registrar.

C. Each centre will have a player's picture available. If anyone wishes to question a player's eligibility, the player in question's picture is requested and he is asked to sign the back. The signed picture is then forwarded to the Registrar for verification by the questioning centre.

Section 5 – Eligibility

Challenges to player eligibility must be made before or after the game and a cheque, payable to COMFL, in the amount of $25.00 per player must accompany all challenges. Such cheque shall be presented to the home game convenor or League Registrar. The challenge cheque is not refundable if the challenge is lost. If a picture of the player is not available, a signature of the player, along with a validating coach's signature must be provided and both sent to the Registrar for verification. An automatic $100.00 fine is applicable. The Registrar may require the player in question to appear in front of him/her for further verification.

SECTION 6 - TERRITORIAL GUIDELINES

A. All players must play in the centre in which they hold official residence. Centre boundaries are defined by either the 1997 municipal boundaries or the territorial boundaries as set out in writing by COMFL.

B. Players who move during the COMFL season from one centre to another may not change teams. In the following year, they must play where they live.

C. Once players have registered with the COMFL they may not play for any other centre in that year, unless the team in their original centre is disbanded.

D. Exceptions

1. Section 6.D.1&4

Players who reside in a centre which does not field a team in their age group may play for any centre. Once the centre, in which said player resides, fields a team in said player’s age group, said player has the option to continue to play in the centre in which he/she was registered. Should the player decide, at any time, to return to the centre in which they live, a written release shall be granted by the centre where said player was registered.

2. “Sibling Rule” - The brothers or sisters of players who have been officially released to play in a centre, other than the one in which they reside, may also play for the centre outside of their official residence. In this case, a COMFL Player Release Form must be signed by the centre in which they reside. Should the brother or sister of said player decide to play in the centre in which they reside, then they shall relinquish their rights under the so called “sibling rule” and be governed by all the other by-laws.

Section 6.D

3. Players who play HOUSE LEAGUE football in a centre, other than the one in which they live, must play “REP” football in the centre in which they reside, unless a COMFL Player Release Form is signed .

4. Players who live in one centre and their parent is a coach or member of the executive for the past year and will hold that position in the current season in another centre may play in the other centre. Note * effective beginning 2006

Section 6.E

In all cases, a signed COMFL Player Release Form must be signed by the president of both centres involved in the transaction. Such form must also bear the signatures of the player or the player’s legal guardian, if under the age of 18.

Section 6.F

In all cases where a centre is approached by a player or his/her parents or guardians, who resides in another center’s boundaries, said centre provide the player with the contact information for the centre in which they reside. Said centre shall also immediately notify (in writing) the centre in which the player resides and provide that centre with contact information for the player and/or parents or guardians. Failure to give notification, as per above, will negate the provisions in section 6.G .

Section 6.G

In all cases where a centre is approached by another centre for a player release, such request shall be responded to in writing no later than 30 days prior to the first league game or within 15 days if such request is submitted after the first league game. In cases where the player in question has not previously reported to the centre in which they reside, said player must report to the centre in which they reside and participate in a minimum of two calendar weeks of regular practice sessions in order for the player to be evaluated. The player and his/her parents or guardians should be informed that these restrictions may impact on the deadline for player registration. In no case will a registration extension be given for an individual player in this situation as the preference of the league is for the player to play in the centre in which they reside.

Section 6.H

In all cases where a player is “cut”, from the “rep” team, in the centre in which they reside, said player shall be free to approach another centre for evaluation and possible incorporation into the other center’s rep team. In this case, the centre “cutting” the player shall provide said player with written notification that they have been “cut” and that they are free to join another team if they wish. Said player should provide such written notification to the other centre that they approach.

SECTION 7 - RE-SCHEDULING OF GAMES

A. When a COMFL game requires re-scheduling it is responsibility of the HOME team to negotiate a suitable date with the visiting team. It is then the HOME team's Association President's responsibility to notify the Scheduler or League President. The Scheduler or League President will then confirm this information with the visiting team's Association President.

B. Both associations are urged to arrange to play the outstanding game at a mutually agreeable date. Should no date be mutually agreeable within three (3) days of the original game, the Scheduler or League President may set the date at his/her discretion or form a committee to help do so. In the event the Scheduler's or League President's team is involved, an appropriate League Executive must deal with the issue.

C. In normal circumstance the Home team shall maintain their home field advantage. Any additional costs incurred by either team will be dealt with on an individual basis.